How Do I?

Getting Started

A Building Permit is not required if your proposed fence is no taller than 3 feet at the front of the property, or taller than 6 feet on the side* or rear property lines. Proposed fences that will be higher than those limits, will require the submittal of a Building Permit Application. Depending on the scope of work and zoning district of your property your project may be approvable over-the-counter (OTC), or it may require Neighborhood Notification and several accompanying Pre-Application steps.

* If your fence is on the forward portion of your lot, particularly in front of any structures and/or within 15 feet of the front property line it may be treated as a fence "at the front" by the Planning Department and may require special regulation (see Understanding What's Allowed below).

It is recommended to visit or call Planning staff at the Planning Information Center (PIC) early in the planning of your project. The PIC is at 1660 Mission Street, 1st floor and may also be reached by phone at (415) 558-6377 or via email at pic@sfgov.org.

We also recommend you contact the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) to confirm their requirements before submitting your Building Permit Application. They can be reached at (415) 558-6088, or at 1660 Mission Street 1st floor Public Information Counter.

Understanding What's Allowed

Fence construction is regulated by the San Francisco Planning Code. To maintain the character and purpose of distinct areas in San Francisco, the City's geography has been divided into distinct zoning use districts (view these zoning use districts on the San Francisco Zoning Map and Section 201 of the Planning Code). For each activity or use of land in any given zoning district, the Code states if that activity or use is either: Permitted; Conditional; or Not Permitted. Therefore knowing the zoning district of your property will help you identify what specific limits may apply to your project and which application materials you will need to submit.

Other Things To Consider
In addition to the zoning district and land use regulations in the San Francisco Planning Code, your application will also be reviewed under provisions in all of San Francisco's Municipal Codes, the San Francisco General Plan, and Department policies based on a number of criteria (e.g. the historical significance of your property, the environmental impact of your project, or other regulations).

Here are the most common regulations you will need to consider:

Neighborhood Notification requirements
You may build a fence taller than 10 feet within the "Buildable Area of the Lot" (i.e. not in the required front setback, rear yard, or side yards, see below). However a fence higher than 10 feet in most residential districts and Neighborhood Commercial (NC) districts will require you complete the Neighborhood Notification Process. If your project requires Neighborhood Notification, the Planning Department mails a notice alerting neighbors and neighborhood groups in the vicinity of your proposed project and they are given a period of 30 days to respond with concerns or to request a Discretionary Review (DR). Depending on the scope of your project, you may also need to provide a "Pre-Application Notice" to nearby neighbors, and/or you may need to hold a "Pre-Application Meeting." The triggers for the Pre-Application Process are explained in the Pre-Application Information Packet.

Yard and setback requirementsThe principal restrictions on fences are the limitations set on development of your property based on required yards (rear and/or side) and front setbacks. Those requirements are based on your zoning use district. These requirements are illustrated further in Zoning Administrator Bulletin 5. For residences in commercial zoning districts the rear yard requirement is typically 25 percent of lot depth. You can apply the rules of a 25 percent rear yard requirement shown in Bulletin 5 to determine yard requirements for residences in commercial districts.)

Fences taller than 10 feet & "Buildable area of the lot"
You may build a fence taller than 10 feet within the "buildable area of the lot." Buildable area of the lot means the area that is not part of the required yards or setbacks under the Planning Code and within the applicable height limit. (Zoning Administrator Bulletin 5 explains buildable area for Residential Districts.) However, fences taller than 10 feet within the "buildable area of the lot" require "notification" to neighbors (known as Neighborhood Notification).

Height restrictions, "At The Front," & other fence requirements
A fence within the required front setback is considered a fence "at the front," and it is therefore subject to stricter height limits. In most residential districts this requirement is based on the adjacent front building walls. If your fence is forward of (i.e. closer to the street than) the average depth of the walls on each side of your property, then it is probably in this setback. There are no permitted front setbacks in non-residential districts, and generally there are rear yard requirements applicable to fences when there is residential use in the building.

If your zoning district allows front setbacks, the restrictions are that your fence can be 3-feet high if solid, and 6-feet high if 75% open. A 75% open fence would typically be something like a wrought iron gate where solid portion of the fence makes up 25% or less of the total area of the fence. A picket fence with minor openings between slats would not qualify unless the slats were very thin and/or had large gaps between them. (Please note, you cannot build a fence that is 3-feet high and solid when any additional fencing exists above that height in your front setback.)

You may build a fence higher than 10 feet if it is within the buildable area of the lot as explained above (i.e. not in the required front setback, rear yard, or side yards). However a fence higher than 10 feet in most residential districts and Neighborhood Commercial districts will require you complete the Neighborhood Notification Process.

Compliance with Residential Design Guidelines
In addition to the specific requirements of the Planning Code, buildings in Residential districts must conform to the Residential Design Guidelines which insure that the building's scale and architectural character are consistent with the surrounding neighborhood.

Historic Resources
If your project involves alteration to structure that has been identified (through a Historic Resources Survey or other means) as a historic resource or if the structure is 50 years old or greater then there will most likely be additional materials and process involved in order to determine if the proposed work is appropriate. See our Historic Preservation section to read more about evaluating historic character and the additional procedures that might be required if a historic structure is impacted. Preservation Technical Specialists (planners with specialized training in evaluating impacts on historic resources) at the Planning Information Center (PIC) can help you understand what's allowed on your building. There are regularly scheduled hours where Preservation Technical Specialists are available to help you at the PIC, click here for more info.

Tree protection
Through an effort to protect the City's most valuable, relevant and historic trees, the City has adopted tree protection legislation regarding certain trees. Be sure to check that a protected or landmarked tree won't be impacted by your project.

If you wish to build a fence that exceeds the restrictions stated above, you can apply for a "Variance" at a public Variance Hearing.

Applying for Your Permit & Paying Fees

Applications for fences require construction drawings (plans) and supporting documentation to show the project's scope and illustrate that the proposed work will meet all applicable Codes. In particular, your site plan should clearly show:

the location of the proposed fence on the site

the location of the building walls on the two adjacent parcels (or one adjacent parcel if you are on a corner lot)

the elevations of the proposed fence, showing height and supports

The following information must be submitted when applying for a permit to construct or replace a fence:

Since every project is unique, we have a useful matrix handout, the Permit Application Checklist which explains submittal requirements based on the proposed work as described under "How to Use This Matrix." A checklist of required materials to be submitted with the Building Permit is also included in the Building Permit Application Packet which also describes the Neighborhood Notification process.

To submit a permit, prepare the Building Permit Application and bring it along with all necessary plans and materials as described in the Permit Application Checklist and/or Building Application Packet to the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) at 1660 Mission Street. If you are a new user, we recommend you come to the Planning Information Center (PIC) also at 1660 Mission Street before proceeding to DBI.

Fees
Permit fees are based on the construction cost of your project. To estimate permit fees, the Planning Department's fee schedule is available online. We also have a fee calculator for Building Permits reviewed by the Planning Department. If you have any questions, please stop by or call the Planning Information Center (PIC) staff at (415) 558-6377. Depending on your location and project type, impact fees may be required for new construction. Contact the PIC to see if these requirements apply to your property. Please note this is for the Planning Department's review fees only. Fees for review by the Building Department are available here. You may also call DBI at 558-6088.

Don't forget: Should the cost of staff time exceed the initial fee you paid, it is possible an additional fee for time and materials may be billed upon completion of the permit review process. Additional fees may also be collected for preparation and recordation of any documents with the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s office and for monitoring compliance with any conditions of approval.

Permit Review Process

1. Submittal

If you have already visited the Planning Information Center (PIC) at 1660 Mission Street and you are confident you have all the correct materials for your Building Permit Application, your next step is to submit your application materials & fees listed in Applying for My Permit & Paying Fees to the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) at 1660 Mission Street.

2. Screening

After initial screening of your application by DBI, the Planning Department will review the application to confirm it is complete for Planning Department requirements. If information is missing, or if corrections are needed, you will be asked to return with that information. If Neighborhood Notification is not required, planners at the Planning Information Center (PIC) will review the application to determine if it complies with the San Francisco Planning Code (view the code online) and is consistent with our Residential Design Guidelines and the additional regulations detailed above in Understanding What's Allowed. If so, it may be approved over-the-counter. If Neighborhood Notification is required, the application will be taken in and routed to an assigned planner at the Planning Department.

3. Plan Review

Similar to Screening in Step 2, when the Planning Department reviews your application, an assigned planner will determine if the application complies with the San Francisco Planning Code (view the code online) and is consistent with our Residential Design Guidelines and the additional regulations detailed above in Understanding What's Allowed. In addition, according to Planning Code Sections 311/312 Neighborhood Notification procedures, prior to filing any Entitlement Application (this includes but is not limited to Building Permits, Variances, and Conditional Use Authorizations) the project sponsor must conduct a minimum of one Pre-Application Meeting if the proposed scope of work triggers such a meeting. The triggers for the Pre-Application Process are explained in the Pre-Application Information Packet. Once the planner determines that your project is approvable, he or she will initiate the Neighborhood Notification process.

4. Notification

Neighborhood Notification entails mailing an announcement of your project to neighbors and neighborhood groups so that they, or any person, may voice concerns they have over the proposal or so that they may request a Discretionary Review (a hearing seeking denial of the project or changes to the proposal before the San Francisco Planning Commission). The permit is held by Planning for a 30-day period from the date of mailed notification to allow adequate time for public review of the proposal. During the notification period, any person may ask the San Francisco Planning Commission to exercise its power of Discretionary Review over the Building Permit Application.

You will meet with review staff from different departments as directed by DBI, who will check your construction documents to verify the proposed construction will meet the various City Municipal Codes (view all codes online). Staff from the following departments will check a typical Building Permit for fences:

Department of Building Inspection (DBI)

Department of Public Works (DPW)/ Bureau of Streets Management (BSM) (if use of streetspace/sidewalk is proposed in your project)

San Francisco Fire Department

Other agencies may be involved depending on the scope of your project.

When all the reviews are complete, the permit will be issued, and you can begin work. Note, there is a 15-day period after Building Permit issuance in which any party may appeal the permit to the Board of Appeals.

Inspections

Inspections of permitted work is the responsibility of the Department of Building Inspection. DBI's Inspection Services page explains their inspection function.

Members of the public are not required to provide personal identifying information when they communicate with the Commission or Department. All written or oral communications, including submitted personal contact information, may be made available to the public for inspection and copying upon request and may appear on the Department's website or in other public documents.